Amari Ann Sheperd
Amari Ann Sheperd
Consent on the Yard: Protecting Boundaries During Homecoming
Consent on the Yard: Protecting Boundaries During Homecoming
Homecoming is more than just a tradition, it is a rite of passage. The bass rattles from the tailgate speakers, the aroma of barbecue drifts through the air and alumni flood the yard with hugs, stories and school pride. Students step out in their finest fashions, lining the streets for the parade, filling the stands for the game and dancing shoulder-to-shoulder at parties and concerts. It is a pause from deadlines and classes, a chance to soak in the HBCU experience in all its beautiful Black glory. A time to revel in culture, honor legacy and create memories that will live far beyond our college years.
Homecoming also carries another layer. Even at the height of the celebration, there is one thing that must not be ignored: consent. Homecoming is about living life to the fullest, but it is also about making sure that every student feels safe, protected by all, respected, protected by one another, and feeling free to make their own decisions.
“Nearly one in four undergraduate women at major U.S. universities has experienced sexual assault or misconduct,” Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. “Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of women and 6.8% of men reported rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. And in 80% of cases, the perpetrator is someone the survivor knows.”
At Spelman, Title IX student representatives note that the energy of Homecoming often alters the campus atmosphere. Crowds are larger, parties extend later and new people arrive from outside the AUC.
“The social environment on campus completely changes, especially regarding boundaries and consent,” Tamar Lucas, a Spelman College Title IX peer educator, said. “During Homecoming, people end up getting drunk, and a lot of people don’t know that you can’t give consent while you are drunk. When going to festivities on and off campus, safety is really important, and people don’t think about it until something actually happens to them or their friends.”
Knowledge on the heightened risks during Homecoming season is especially emphasized for first-year students, who may be experiencing the excitement of the AUC’s traditions for the first time. It is essential to provide these students with clear information on consent, boundaries and available resources as soon as possible. Hence, they feel prepared to navigate both on-campus and off-campus festivities safely.
“Understanding the risks during the Red Zone, which runs from August to November, Spelman begins educating the community as soon as students arrive in August,” Title IX and compliance director Dr. Jaray E. Mazique said. “. To prepare for Homecoming, we partner with SGA, Housing, and other AUC Title IX offices on events like Flag on the Play, as well as table at Market Friday to converse with students about drinking, consent and safety.”
Amari Ann Sheperd, the SGA Director of Compliance and Safety, said that SGA has been working to ensure students are informed about resources and expectations before the crowds gather.
“With the help of Analiese Poe, SGA secretary of student affairs, and Taylor Harris, SGA director of special populations, we partnered with the rideshare app Fetii to provide students with free rides during Homecoming,” Sheperd said. “We’re encouraging students to use that resource so they don’t have to ride in Ubers alone.”
The goal is not to enforce rules but to shift culture. This conversation is not about creating fear but about building awareness and reminding students that consent is non-negotiable. It is about making sure everyone feels empowered to set boundaries and confident that those boundaries will be respected. In this way, consent becomes an integral part of the Homecoming tradition, woven into the celebration alongside music, tailgating, and reunions.
“We just want to make sure that students are being mindful and aware of their surroundings. Know that all skinfolk ain’t kinfolk so make sure to remember the safety tools SGA and Title IX have provided you with,” Shepherd said.
Homecoming is about reunion, HBCU pride, joy and legacy, but legacy also carries responsibility. Consent cannot be treated as an afterthought; it must be at the center of how the AUC celebrates. By incorporating awareness and accountability into the tradition, students can ensure that the memories built on the yard are ones of unity, safety, and respect.
.
“Title IX is an impartial resource that is always available to students who have experienced or been accused of sex discrimination,” Mazique said. “Our team works hard to educate and prevent sex discrimination, but we also act promptly when cases are reported. Most importantly, students should know they will never be forced to file a report or engage in a Title IX process—if they only need resources, we can provide that as well.”
Homecoming is more than just a tradition, it is a rite of passage. The bass rattles from the tailgate speakers, the aroma of barbecue drifts through the air and alumni flood the yard with hugs, stories and school pride. Students step out in their finest fashions, lining the streets for the parade, filling the stands for the game and dancing shoulder-to-shoulder at parties and concerts. It is a pause from deadlines and classes, a chance to soak in the HBCU experience in all its beautiful Black glory. A time to revel in culture, honor legacy and create memories that will live far beyond our college years.
Homecoming also carries another layer. Even at the height of the celebration, there is one thing that must not be ignored: consent. Homecoming is about living life to the fullest, but it is also about making sure that every student feels safe, protected by all, respected, protected by one another, and feeling free to make their own decisions.
“Nearly one in four undergraduate women at major U.S. universities has experienced sexual assault or misconduct,” Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. “Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of women and 6.8% of men reported rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation. And in 80% of cases, the perpetrator is someone the survivor knows.”
At Spelman, Title IX student representatives note that the energy of Homecoming often alters the campus atmosphere. Crowds are larger, parties extend later and new people arrive from outside the AUC.
“The social environment on campus completely changes, especially regarding boundaries and consent,” Tamar Lucas, a Spelman College Title IX peer educator, said. “During Homecoming, people end up getting drunk, and a lot of people don’t know that you can’t give consent while you are drunk. When going to festivities on and off campus, safety is really important, and people don’t think about it until something actually happens to them or their friends.”
Knowledge on the heightened risks during Homecoming season is especially emphasized for first-year students, who may be experiencing the excitement of the AUC’s traditions for the first time. It is essential to provide these students with clear information on consent, boundaries and available resources as soon as possible. Hence, they feel prepared to navigate both on-campus and off-campus festivities safely.
“Understanding the risks during the Red Zone, which runs from August to November, Spelman begins educating the community as soon as students arrive in August,” Title IX and compliance director Dr. Jaray E. Mazique said. “. To prepare for Homecoming, we partner with SGA, Housing, and other AUC Title IX offices on events like Flag on the Play, as well as table at Market Friday to converse with students about drinking, consent and safety.”
Amari Ann Sheperd, the SGA Director of Compliance and Safety, said that SGA has been working to ensure students are informed about resources and expectations before the crowds gather.
“With the help of Analiese Poe, SGA secretary of student affairs, and Taylor Harris, SGA director of special populations, we partnered with the rideshare app Fetii to provide students with free rides during Homecoming,” Sheperd said. “We’re encouraging students to use that resource so they don’t have to ride in Ubers alone.”
The goal is not to enforce rules but to shift culture. This conversation is not about creating fear but about building awareness and reminding students that consent is non-negotiable. It is about making sure everyone feels empowered to set boundaries and confident that those boundaries will be respected. In this way, consent becomes an integral part of the Homecoming tradition, woven into the celebration alongside music, tailgating, and reunions.
“We just want to make sure that students are being mindful and aware of their surroundings. Know that all skinfolk ain’t kinfolk so make sure to remember the safety tools SGA and Title IX have provided you with,” Shepherd said.
Homecoming is about reunion, HBCU pride, joy and legacy, but legacy also carries responsibility. Consent cannot be treated as an afterthought; it must be at the center of how the AUC celebrates. By incorporating awareness and accountability into the tradition, students can ensure that the memories built on the yard are ones of unity, safety, and respect.
.
“Title IX is an impartial resource that is always available to students who have experienced or been accused of sex discrimination,” Mazique said. “Our team works hard to educate and prevent sex discrimination, but we also act promptly when cases are reported. Most importantly, students should know they will never be forced to file a report or engage in a Title IX process—if they only need resources, we can provide that as well.”